Students visit Teeters, explore mortician careers

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News Eagle - Hawley, PA

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Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Updated Nov 30, 2012 at 1:18 PM

Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 1:18 PM

Hawley, Pa.

Three Wallenpaupack students recently visited Teeters' Funeral Chapel in Hawley recently to learn about mortuary science thanks to Melissa Regenski, a transition coordinator and Colleen Edwards, a career coordinator who arranged the visits.

The students were Christina Iannucci, James Weiss and Lucas Giglio.

Teeters’ Funeral Chapel has been a family firm since 1849. Dick Teeter and his daughter Julia Teeter-Seiler own and operate Teeters’ businesses.

Dick Teeter outlined his educational background and his responsibilities as funeral director for the students. Dick explained the chapel was the first of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But, eventually, the small brick chapel needed to be enlarged to accommodate many funerals. So, the Teeter original structure expanded to include a larger viewing room.

During a tour, Teeter showed the students the embalming facility and detailed the funeral process. He explained how computer technology is used to help families determine funeral options as well as the information families may wish to have published online.

Teeter concluded by emphasizing that funeral directors and their staff must be committed to providing families with compassionate, competent service during an extremely stressful and difficult time. One of the most critical skills for funeral directors to possess is the ability to listen and understand the families’ needs not only as they make funeral arrangements, but also during and after the funeral services, he said.